[pct-l] Pocketmail

[Jack Wallace]

I am not sure Pocketmail is still a viable concern.  Over the past 2 or more weeks I have tried multiple times to purchace the Pocketmail device and service.  It indicates "out of stock" if you actually try to purchase the item.  I have sent them 2 emails requesting customer service and called their toll free number multiple times.  They don't write; they don't call; or even answer their phone.  If anyone else has had a positive experience; I would be interested in knowing about that.  Thanks.
 
 
Message: 9Date: Mon, 2 Feb 2009 09:14:25 ESTFrom: Trekker4 at aol.comSubject: Re: [pct-l] PocketmailTo: kellycohoe at comcast.net, pct-l at backcountry.netMessage-ID: <be7.45ba8af8.36b859c1 at aol.com>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"A Pocketmail (Pmail) weighs 8 oz with 2 lithium (don't get any other kind) AA batteries; I have no idea what a Blackberry weighs. Pmail requires a subscription to the service: $120/12 mo, $75/6 mo, $45/3 mo - last time I checked. I just get a 3 or 6 mo for my summer section hiking. It costs $100 with an initial 3 mo subscription: _http://www.pocketmail.com/us/_ (http://www.pocketmail.com/us/) . I just checked; THE SUBSCRIPTION RATES HAVE GONE UP! It works on land line or GSM cell phones; it does not work on CDMA cell phones - again, last time I checked. There is also no Inet, or any other fancy stuff; it is strictly an email device; and it works on a built-in, old-fashioned acoustic modem over 2 toll-free numbers. When you get to a land line, or if you carry a GSM cell, you can send whatever emails you have ready. Some pay phones, privately owned ones, won't work on the first number, but have always worked on the 2nd number. It works with online journaling, but I don't do that; it allows you to get emails from your normal addresses, but I don't do that either. You will have a separate email address, such as _stumblinghiker at pocketmail.com_ (mailto:stumblinghiker at pocketmail.com) , and you will stumble using it while walking down the trail, as I frequently do - use it, not stumble. I have dropped it a few times, even threw it 15 feet once when my trailing boot toe caught a rock and threw me down; it keeps on ticking, for over 2,000 miles now. I carry it in my sun shirt pocket, even through it's a bit heavy for that, and I do put it in a cigar zip bag when it rains. I have a tab sewn onto my shirt pocket to keep it there, for stream crossings or very rough places. It has alarm clock, calculator, memo, folders, tools, and pc link functions; it can also defrag its own memory. I've never come close to using even 25% of the memory, and I write fiction on it; so far I haven't had much luck transferring stuff to my pc, editing it and transferring it back. I'd never keep a written journal, but I write a daily report to friends and family, write a daily report to PCTA and maintainers on trail conditions, and keep other notes: daily mileage, camera battery usage, gls and qts usage of my Steripen batteries, rating ProBar or other food bar flavors, etc.Bob "Trekker"Big Bend Desert DenizenNaturalized Citizen - Republic of TexasGovernment cripples you, then hands you a crutch and says, 'See, if it wasn't for us, you couldn't walk.' -- Harry Browne"If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when its free." -- P. J. ORourkeIn a message dated 2/1/2009 4:55:48 P.M. Central Standard Time, kellycohoe at comcast.net writes:I know this has probably come up before, but what advice do people have for journaling and communicating with loved ones? Is pocketmail a good deal? I have never even seen one so I have no idea. Do I upgrade to a blackberry/iphone device. Utilize a good old fashioned notebook?Your thoughts would be appreciated.Kelly_______________________________________________Pct-l mailing listPct-l at backcountry.nethttp://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l 
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